April 2018

6 features

6 features April 13, 2018 W “ BY MARTYLINETTE SANCHEZ AND NATALIA WOLNY features editor and asst. features editor DANNY FOWLER Blind to humankind ENCOUNTERS WITH STEREOTYPES SKEW THE WAYS WE SEE OURSELVES AND EACH OTHER Whether on a short skit from Saturday Night Live or in our very own hallways, stereotypes cannot be ignored and, even when intended for humor, can cause confusion and pain to individuals. Contrary to some beliefs, stereotypes are often hyperbolic, fabricated ideas. “A belief about a certain group of people is called a stereotype. Stereotypes can be positive or negative, but are usually an exaggerated idea of what a group is like,” sociology teacher Gwynne Ryan said. “These ideas are sometimes attached to expectations about how a group member should act or think. This is called stereotyping -- unfounded behavioral expectations for a category of people.” To prove how stereotyping does happen, junior Suha Lim explained how people assumed she was smart because her family is Korean. “People assumed I got good grades because I was Asian. I’ve learned to deal with it, and overall it’s better than being called dumb,” Lim said. Stereotypes, even when considered good, can impact students negatively. “I think it’s bad even if Asians are stereotyped to be smart. It puts unnecessary pressure on these people to get good grades, and then if they don’t live up to them they might feel like a failure. By stereotyping them we are telling them to act a certain way,” freshman Hannah Khan said. Sometimes stereotypes can make us generalize traits about people, and we end up judging an entire group of people based on assumptions. “While stereotypes might sometimes ‘seem’ to be true, most people forget to ask the significant questions about other variables about a group of people that would illustrate why the stereotype is untrue or represents an incomplete picture,” Ryan said. For example, “although somebody that is white might joke that they can’t dance because they are white, there are also white people that are able “ “ One of my best friends feels challenged by gender stereotypes. She finds it tough to play sports or do anything that boys may excel at. However, every day she works hard and proves people wrong by going out there and doing her best and proving that girls can do things that boys can too. - freshman Nabah Sultan ” Sometimes when a computer's not working someone might say, ‘Hey, why don't you go and fix that?’ or if I do well on a test and someone says, ‘Of course, he's Asian.’ But, it's always as joke. - junior Sobin Puthenthara ” In my World Cultures class, I was talking about being Muslim and then people started saying how Muslims were terrorists. I felt like I was being judged for my religion. People stereotype because that’s what they’re taught. They judge based on what they see, and then they react by stereotyping. - freshman Hannah Khan “ People assumed I was smart without knowing me because I’m Asian. It’s not a bad stereotype but it has happened to me a lot. I think that it is wrong when people generalize others based on race and stereotypes because it ignores everybody’s personal identity. ” - junior Suha Lim “I’m Mexican-American. I’m extremely proud of my background, heritage and who I am. It’s the ignorance that bothers me. People don’t take the time to learn about cultures that are different from theirs. It’s an actual struggle to be a minority and a girl when it comes to stereotypes but that doesn’t mean I’ll just accept them, I will succeed, even “ ” if it’s just for myself. - senior Eyzel Torres “ to dance.” These generalizations, known as stereotypes, are woven under the surface of so many elements of American culture than we often don’t even notice their frequency. “These exaggerated ideas about groups of people are also promoted through the media, jokes and sometimes even ourselves,” Ryan said. When we scroll through our Instagram or social media accounts, racist memes -- cloaked as jokes -- depicting stereotypes are commonplace such as those of Asians eating their dogs or Mexicans coming to the United States. When students were shown such memes and asked if such memes were racist, 59% of students said that a meme illustrating an Asian girl next to a dog that was implied to be her food was racist in a Westerner survey. Khan explained how she has grown accustomed to being stereotyped and chooses to laugh it off as a way to deal with it. “I find most racist memes offensive, but they’re so common in our society that the only way to deal with it is to laugh it off,” Khan said. - junior Brandon Murillo 54% of students feel that they have been stereotyped while at school* One stereotype is that Mexicans usually play soccer at recess in elementary or middle school. But now in high school, you are slapped with daily ignorant stereotypes which can affect you if you let them. A couple stereotypes usually directed towards Latinos include that being a Latino immigrant means you’re illegally here in this country. People also generalize that Latinos are only janitors, gardeners or maids. I sometimes have that feeling like I’m not supposed to be taking these AP classes or I shouldn’t even consider going to college because of such stereotypes. ” ” “Personally, I think the best way to approach issues of racism is to have hard and courageous conversations. In those, we must be willing to kindly correct and confront others and be willing to be corrected by others too. One can’t change their thinking, if one doesn’t realize it is wrong,” Ryan said. *according to a Westerner survey of 210 students.

W April 13, 2018 features 7 MANAGING LIFE WITH ACNE STATE COMPETITION TODAY One word. Four letters. Acne. It affects almost every single teen at one point in their lives, and we can find ways to both accept its reality and lessen its impact. In a year in which Kendall Jenner surprised many by showing up to the Golden Globes sporting both a couture gown and acne, the message is clear that acne is simply part of life, no matter how successful, how wealthy, or how famous one might be. There is a science as to why teenagers are prone to getting acne. “Through adolescence, teenagers produce many hormones, including androgens, which is a hormone that causes oil glands to get larger. These oil glands produce more oil than usual,” school nurse Rachel Ossmo said. Ossmo explained how teenagers can do certain things to help calm inflammations as best as possible. “Wash your face daily, and use an alcohol-free cleanser that’s right for your skin type. Always keep your skin moisturized,” Osmo said. Although it might seem counter-intuitive, “moisture from water-based products is not the same as the moisture or oil that your face naturally produces. Water-based hydration helps calm your skin. Looking at the ingredients in products is an essential in deciding which treatments to use to manage one’s acne. “Alcohol in your skin products dries out your skin more than normal, so it’s something that most people should stay away from, especially those with a dry skin type,” Ossmo said. “When your face is dry, your body will signal to your oil glands that they need to increase production” -- the opposite of what most teens want. “To avoid this, stay really hydrated all of the time.” An ingredient that has been very popular in helping manage acne is tea tree oil, which is derived from the leaves of a tea tree. The chemicals in tea tree oil may kill bacteria and fungus and reduce allergic skin reactions, all of which are also helpful in managing acne. Since tea tree oil can be strong, only use it as a spot treatment, and don’t rub it all over your face. “Always do a patch test on a separate part of your skin, that isn’t your face, to make sure it’s safe to use for your skin type,” Ossmo said. The BY IVONNE SANCHEZ reporter ZAC ABEROFacing same thing goes for products containing benzoyl peroxide, retinols, salicylic acid. If you slather multiple products on your face, you risk causing more breakouts and red, peeling skin. Each person has a different skin type, which impacts the amount of acne they get and how they manage it. “I don’t have severe acne, so normally, I just rinse my face with water and avoid wearing makeup,” sophomore Logan Kulbersh said. Senior Shaira Pascua, however, has a more rigorous approach to her skin. “I leave the pimple alone at first, but then after a day I wash my face with hot water to open my pores. After that, I wash my face with my three cleansers, and at the end, rinse my face with cold water to close my pores,” Pascua said. In treating acne, other approaches like face masks might also be helpful. “I use Lush face masks and Walmart brand acne wash to help with my acne,” sophomore Kaitlin Heimbach said. With the access to YouTube, many students look to YouTubers to figure out what works for their skin type. “YouTubers have different skin types, and most of them already know what works for them. If they have the same skin type as me, it’s helpful that they try out the products before I buy them,” Pascua said. As junior Maren Garnett warned, though, everything is not always what it seems, as often Youtube content-creators with huge followings are paid for their videos. “More Youtubers are spending less time on the actual quality of the product and more on the promotions to make money for themselves,” junior Maren Garnett said. To save money, people often resort to home remedies to Reality solve their acne issues. “I tried the remedy of one tablespoon of Elmer’s glue and a pill of activated charcoal mixed together and applied on my face as a dry face mask. It made my face really smooth, but it hurt a lot,” sophomore Kristin Sevcik said. One’s diet and sleep schedule can have a direct impact, too. “If I eat greasy foods, the next day I’ll have oily skin. Also, if I don’t get enough sleep, rest, or have a lot of stress from school, I’ll breakout,” Heimbach said. Considering how commonplace acne is, there are doctors specifically trained to treat it. “If acne is ever the reason why you choose to not do something, you should make an appointment with a dermatologist,” Ossmo said. Overall, “find what works for you,” Pascua said, and embrace the realities of teen life. As Jenner advised her Twitter followers about acne, “never let that stop you!” DRESS FOR SUCCESS BY ARLINE VARGAS reporter All seven of the fashion students that participated in the FCCLA sectional competition advanced to state competition in Springfield today. “I took my seam finish project, which was a black jumpsuit, and the other girls took celebrity designer-inspired garments and other projects we did this year. We usually do have success every year, but this year was particularly successful because we ended up having above a 90 percent criteria total as a group,” junior Ashna Thomas said. The girls are currently taking a trip to the BOS Convention Center in Springfield, to present their garments in the state competition. “We’re all like a big happy family and Mrs. Chen is kind of like our mom. We all have very strong friendships and are very excited to be together in this experience. I hope we do very well in state,” Thomas said. Autumn Horn’s competition dress is part of the state FCCLA competition in Springfield. Their triumph and knowledge would not be possible without the help of their fashion teacher, Jennifer Chen. “I’ve had these students for three or four years, and it’s really neat seeing them grow from not having any sewing experience to now being able to sew their own prom dresses,” Chen said. Fashion has provided an outlet for learning and individuality for many of the students. “I love the creativity behind their garments. Being able to customize their work through their own personal taste is something unique. You can't find this anywhere else in stores,” Chen said. As Thomas explained, designing clothes taught her more than just how to sew. “I have learned many useful skills in fashion, like sewing, but fashion has also showed me that I have a passion that I didn't know I had. It has really sparked an interest and is something I plan on continuing,” Thomas said. It’s more than just ribbons that these students receive -- it is the special bond that they create as a group. “My favorite thing about fashion class was meeting all these talented girls, whom I have created memories with. We have jokes just us fashion girls know and understand,” junior Ashley Burke said. Aiming to help students who are in the culinary arts, preschool, or fashion prepare for future careers, FCCLA -- Family, Career and Community Leaders of America -- is a career and technical student organization that holds annual competitions for students.